Drone News: NDAA Senate Update, Drone Shooter Fined, Leaked Enterprise Controller, NJ Hysteria

We have three drone news stories for you this week: a Флорида man who shot down a drone and was fined, leaked photos of what may be a new DJI Enterprise controller, and the Нью-Джерси drone hysteria getting out of hand. Let’s get into it.

NDAA Update: Senate Passes Bill

Before diving into the news, a quick update: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which we’ve discussed for the past few weeks, has officially passed the Senate. It now heads to the president’s desk for signature. There have been no changes since our last discussion — it still includes some language related to DJI, but none of the original “caning CCCP” clauses are present.

This is both good and bad news. While it avoids harsher restrictions for now, there’s still work to be done in the coming year. We’ll keep you updated as this develops.

Florida Man Fined for Shooting Down a Drone

First up, the Florida man who shot down a Walmart drone has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. As part of a deal, Dennis W. will avoid jail time if he stays out of trouble for the next six months.

If you missed the story, this happened a few weeks ago when Dennis shot the drone with a 9mm handgun and later admitted to the act.

Quick PSA: Shooting at any aircraft — including drones — is illegal. Don’t do it.

Leaked Photos of a New DJI Enterprise Controller

Next, leaked images may reveal a new DJI Enterprise controller. The design resembles previous DJI controllers like the Inspire 1 and 2, featuring a screen mounted on an arm similar to the CrystalSky. Additionally, the controller has an HDMI output on the back.

Interestingly, one of the leaked images includes a drone, though it’s unclear what model it is. Speculation suggests it could be a DJI Mavic 4 prototype. Based on the increasing clarity of these images, it’s a safe bet that DJI will unveil the Mavic 4 in the coming months — likely in late Q1 or early Q2. Time will tell.

New Jersey Drone Hysteria Escalates

Finally, this will be the last time we discuss the New Jersey drone situation. We covered the story when it first broke and didn’t expect it to escalate this far.

After reviewing the videos, most of the “sightings” appear to be manned aircraft — helicopters, airplanes, and similar. There are a few drones flying legally, but the situation has spiraled.

Important Reminder:

• Shooting at or pointing lasers at aircraft — manned or unmanned — is illegal.
• The FBI field office in Newark has reported an increase in laser strikes targeting pilots and is urging people to stop these dangerous activities.
• Сайт Oregon Department of Aviation has released a helpful Q&A PDF that covers the basics of drone operations. This resource can be shared with the public, press, or politicians to help clarify the situation.
• Additionally, there’s been a rise in пилоты беспилотников reporting harassment while flying. This New Jersey story needs to end. Continued speculation and misinformation are not helping anyone, and the last thing we need is a tragic accident involving a manned aircraft.

If you receive questions about drone operations, share credible resources.

A Call to Action: Be a Mentor to New Drone Pilots

Lastly, a request from Пилотный институт: with Christmas and the new year around the corner, we expect a surge of new пилоты беспилотников. Let’s help them get started safely and responsibly.

Here’s how you can help:

• Explain Registration: Any drone over 250 grams requires registration for recreational use. It costs just $5 for three years on the FAA’s DroneZone website.
• Encourage TRUST Certification: TRUST is the required test for recreational pilots, and it’s free. We’re the largest TRUST provider in the country, and it’s easy to take at PilotInstitute.com.
• Promote Safe and Fun Flying: Remind new pilots to have fun while flying and follow the rules.

While negative stories about drones have been prominent this year, there are countless positive examples of drones saving lives and capturing stunning footage. Let’s emphasize these stories and mentor the next generation of пилоты беспилотников.

We have free resources available at Пилотный институт, and we’ve already helped train over 300,000 пилоты беспилотников. If anyone needs a trusted source of information, send them our way.

Final Thoughts

That’s all for this week’s update. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone! We’ll see you next week with more news.